Malia Penhall

This body of work explores our consumerist society through our treatment of dogs, specifically abandoned dogs in shelters and pounds. How do these trusting creatures come to be abandoned as though they were disposable possessions? I see these canine individuals not as something expended but as coiled potential waiting to be unleashed.

Using photos of dogs in local shelters and found trash, I create the handmade portrait of the animal using the tactile process of embroidery. This allows me to physically connect with the subject of my work. The time I spend creating with each stray dog’s portrait helps to develop a personal connection between the animal and myself. This bond helps me to capture the uniqueness of the individual personality of the dog, highlighting what others have over looked.